Former Connecticut Congressman Rob Simmons has an early lead in the Republican primary race
for the 2010 U.S. Senate contest and runs better than any other challenger against Sen. Christopher
Dodd, topping the Democratic incumbent 49 - 38 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University
poll released today.

Even potential Republican contenders with almost no name recognition and almost no
Republican primary voter support give Dodd a run for his money.

Simmons leads a Republican primary matchup with 28 percent, followed by McMahon with
17 percent. No other contender tops 9 percent and 36 percent are undecided.

Connecticut voters disapprove 54 - 40 percent of the job Dodd is doing, compared to a
49 - 43 percent disapproval September 17, and say 53 - 39 percent that he does not deserve
reelection.

"After inching up in the polls for months, Sen. Christopher Dodd is sliding back down
again on job approval. He continues to struggle with independent voters as 60 percent
disapprove of the way he is handling his job. President Barack Obama is still popular with
independents, but voters say that his support of Dodd won't affect their Senate vote," said
Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, PhD.

"Healthcare is an issue that should work for Sen. Dodd. Voters who tell us it's the most
important issue side with him. But voters who care most about the economy say the Republican
candidate will be better able to deal with it. If the economy worsens, this will hurt Dodd."

If McMahon spends millions of her own dollars to be elected U.S. Senator, 61 percent of
voters say that means she is free of pressure from lobbyists and other special interests, while 29
percent say this gives her an unfair advantage and looks like she is buying the election.

Connecticut voters say 34 - 25 percent, with 41 percent undecided, that McMahon does
not have the right kind of experience to be a U.S. Senator.

In an open-ended question, allowing for any answer, 33 percent of Connecticut voters say
the economy is the most important issue in the 2010 Senate race, with another 30 percent who
cite health care. No other issue tops 5 percent.

Dodd gets a negative 42 - 49 percent favorability from voters. Simmons gets a positive
40 - 10 percent favorability, with 49 percent who don't know enough about him to form an
opinion. For McMahon, 66 percent don't know enough about her to form an opinion.

For other Republican contenders, the "don't know enough" score is 74 percent or higher.

"Linda McMahon made a big splash into the race two months ago and finishes second in
the primary to Rob Simmons. She tops Dodd by a couple of points, but it appears that more than
40 percent of voters would vote for anybody but Dodd at this point," Dr. Schwartz added.

Sen. Joseph Lieberman

By a 51 - 25 percent margin, Connecticut voters say Sen. Joseph Lieberman's views on
issues are closer to the Republican Party than to the Democratic Party. There is agreement on this
among voters in all parties.

Voters say 64 - 29 percent that Democrats should not strip Lieberman of his committee
chairmanship if he joins Republicans in a filibuster against the Democrats' health care reform.

Connecticut voters approve 58 - 35 percent of the job President Barack Obama is doing,
but they disapprove 48 - 45 percent of the way he is handling health care.

From November 3 - 8, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,236 Connecticut registered
voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percentage points. The survey includes 474 Democrats
with a margin of error of +/- 4.5 percentage points and 332 Republicans with a margin of error of
+/- 5.4 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey,
Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research.
For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or
follow us on Twitter.

2. (If registered Democrat) If the 2010 Democratic primary for United States
Senator were being held today and the candidates were Chris Dodd and Merrick
Alpert, for whom would you vote?

3. (If registered Republican) If the 2010 Republican primary for United States
Senator were being held today and the candidates were Rob Simmons, Tom Foley,
Sam Caligiuri, Linda McMahon and Peter Schiff, for whom would you vote?

TREND: (If registered Republican) If the 2010 Republican primary for United
States Senator were being held today and the candidates were Rob Simmons, Tom
Foley, Sam Caligiuri, Linda McMahon and Peter Schiff, for whom would you vote?

57. As you may know, President Obama recently came to Connecticut to help raise
money for Senator Dodd's reelection - does this make you more likely to vote for
Dodd, less likely, or doesn't it make a difference?

60. How important do you think it is that a United States Senator has had
considerable experience in politics and government - very important, somewhat
important, not too important, or not important at all?

61. As you may know Linda McMahon may spend millions of dollars of her own money
to be elected United States Senator. Which comes closer to your point of view -
A) By financing her own campaign she is free from being beholden to lobbyists
and other special interests who would otherwise finance her campaign or B) By
financing her own campaign she has an unfair advantage and looks like she is
trying to buy the election?

TREND: Do you support or oppose giving people the option of being covered by a
government health insurance plan that would compete with private plans?

Nov 12 Sep 17
2009 2009
Support 56 64
Oppose 37 30
DK/NA 8 6

65. As you may know, Senator Lieberman opposes giving people the option of being
covered by a government health insurance plan that would compete with private
plans. Does this make you more likely to vote for Senator Lieberman, less
likely, or doesn't it make a difference?

66. If Senator Lieberman joins Republicans in a filibuster to prevent a vote on
the Democrat's health care reform plan, do you think Senate Democrats should
punish Lieberman by taking away his chairmanship of the Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs Committee or not?